Apparatus for monitoring, regulating, or controlling fluid flow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12502476-B2
Application number	US-202318241573-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2023
Priority date	Jan 28, 2016
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for regulating fluid flow are disclosed. An apparatus for infusing fluid into a patient includes a housing, a tube-contact member, a rotating arm, and a tube-retention cover. The housing has an opening on a front side of the housing. The opening is sized to receive a drip chamber having an inlet tube and an outlet tube. The tube-contact member contacts one of the inlet tube and the output tube of the drip chamber when inserted into the opening. The rotating arm is coupled to the tube-contact member and is configured to rotate along an axis. The tube-retention cover is configured to close when the drip chamber is initially loaded into the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A downstream tube for use in a drip chamber, the downstream tube comprising:
a length of tubing including a first portion defining a first length; and an anti-pinch member including a second portion defining a second length, the anti-pinch member being coupled to the first portion of tubing, the first length being greater than the second length, the anti-pinch member being configured to inhibit point contacts from forming within the second portion, wherein upon application of a force to the anti-pinch member, the anti-pinch member being configured to prevent point contacts from forming within the second portion and to facilitate a comparatively more linearized restriction of fluid flow under applied force, as compared to a configuration lacking the anti-pinch member.

2 . The downstream tube of claim 1 , wherein the first length is greater than the second length.

3 . The downstream tube of claim 1 , wherein the length of tubing further comprises a second portion, the second portion being the anti-pinch member.

4 . The downstream tube of claim 1 , wherein the anti-pinch member is disposed within the length of tubing.

5 . The downstream tube of claim 1 , wherein the anti-pinch member is disposed around an outer periphery of the length of tubing.

6 . The downstream tube of claim 1 , wherein the anti-pinch member includes a plurality of conduits extending through the anti-pinch member.

7 . The downstream tube of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of conduits are parallel to one another.

8 . The downstream tube of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of conduits defines a teardrop-shape, each tear drop shape defining a rounded end and a point.

9 . The downstream tube of claim 8 , wherein the point is directed toward an axis extending lengthwise through a center of the anti-pinch member.

10 . The downstream tube of claim 6 , wherein the first portion defines a single central conduit, and the plurality of conduits are in fluidic communication with the single central conduit.

11 . The downstream tube of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of conduits are in fluidic communication with the first portion.

12 . A drip chamber system comprising:
a downstream tube comprising:
a length of tubing including a first portion defining a first length; and
an anti-pinch member having a second portion defining a second length, the anti-pinch member being coupled to the first portion of tubing, the first length being greater than the second length, the anti-pinch member being configured to inhibit point contacts from forming within the second portion, wherein the anti-pinch member being configured to prevent point contacts from forming within the second portion and to facilitate a comparatively more linearized restriction of fluid flow under applied force, as compared to a configuration lacking the anti-pinch member;
a drip chamber housing defining a fluid chamber; and a cap coupled to the drip chamber, the downstream tube being coupled to the cap, the cap being in fluid communication with the fluid chamber.

13 . The drip chamber system of claim 12 , wherein the first length being greater than the second length.

14 . The drip chamber system of claim 12 , wherein the length of tubing further comprises a second portion, the second portion being the anti-pinch member.

15 . The drip chamber system of claim 12 , wherein the anti-pinch member is disposed within the length of tubing.

16 . The drip chamber system of claim 12 , wherein the anti-pinch member is disposed around an outer periphery of the length of tubing.

17 . The drip chamber system of claim 12 , wherein the anti-pinch member includes a plurality of conduits extending through the anti-pinch member.

18 . The drip chamber system of claim 17 , wherein the first portion defines a central conduit, the central conduit being in fluid communication with the plurality of conduits.

19 . The drip chamber system of claim 18 , wherein the first portion defines a single central conduit.

Assignees

• Deka Products Lp

Inventors

• Dale James D
• Fichera Stephen L
• Gray Larry B
• Kamen Dean
• Lanigan Matthew J
• Morgan Frederick
• Van Der Merwe Dirk A
• Yoo Brian H

Classifications

• A61M2209/086

  Docking stations · CPC title

• A61M2205/8206

  battery-operated · CPC title

• A61M2205/583

  by visual feedback · CPC title

• A61M2205/50

  with microprocessors or computers · CPC title

• A61M2205/3569

  sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable · CPC title